Frame structure



March 24, 1953 A. BLACKBURN 2,632,532

7 FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 16, 1946 INVENTOR. LUTHERAEZACKH/PN WWII/MATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRAMESTRUCTURE Luther A. Blackburn, Lynwood, cant. Application September 16,1946, Serial No. 697,370

This invention relates to frame structures, and more specificallypertains to sectional frames for supporting and enclosing oil wellpumping equipment in position for use over a well. 011 well pumpingmechanism of a type comparatively new in the field contemplates the useof a crosshead, in which the polished rod of the pump assembly isclamped, actuated by endless drive chains arranged vertically around thewell. While such equipment is more costly to manufacture and installthan the conventional walking beam type pumping apparatus heretoforeemployed, its greater efliciency dictates its use in deep wells. Asthere is considerable lossin the effective pumping stroke at the bottomof the well'incident to elongation and contraction of the tubing stringand sucker rod string which must alternately carry the load of the oilcolumn on successive strokes of the pump, it is necessary,

in order to recover a unit volume of oil, that the -length of the pumpstroke at the surface be proportioned to the depth of the well. Thelength of the stroke obtainable with the modern chainactuated mechanismis limited only by the lengths of the chains, but as they are arrangedparallel to the polished rod suitable vertical supporting structure mustbe provided tomount the sprockets for the drive chains as well as those-was desired. While adequate strength is assuredin frames of this type,their construction is often awkward and time-consuming, as it is usuallynecessary to build them on the site.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a framecomposed of a plurality of sections adapted for facile assembly toproduce a composite structure of any height desired, for the supporttherein of sprockets and auxiliary apparatus required for the suspensionand actuation of the vertical drive chains of modern deep well pumpingunits.

3 Claims (01. 189-16) Another and highly important object is theprovision of a frame composed entirely of plate stock of novel form andarrangement to furnish accommodation for counterweight assemblies ateach end thereof and to assure a maximum area within the frame for drivemechanism while contributing-sufficient strength to withstand thesection frame. a pair of side plates 1, each of which comprises anintermediate vertical fiat panel 8 flanked by flat-bottomed indentedribs 9. tions ID of each side plate I are also flat and are Anotherobject is to provide a crown plate for the upper end of a verticallyassembled sectional frame of the type alluded to, to afford support forbearings for counterweight'chain sprockets accommodated withinregistering slots formed within the crown plate and adjacent end of theother upper frame section.

Still another object is to provide a frame comprising side platesadapted to perform the threefold function of enclosing the internalpumping mechanism, of furnishing the principal support for the pumpelements and actuating mechanism, and of affording vertical guidesforcounterweights adapted to be reciprocated with each cycle ofoperation of the pump.

Numerous other objects and salient features of my invention, such forexample as simplicity of construction, greater facility of assemblyresulting in a saving of time at the well, economy of manufacture inboth materials and labor, and adaptability to pumping units of differentsizes, will be apparent to those of skill in the art to which myinvention appertains from an examination of the following descriptionread in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a two-section frame unit embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through thelower part of the unit, takenon line 3-301 Fig. 1 and illustrating the cross-sectional contour ofeach section;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of theassembly, depicting particularly the crown plate for supporting the coun- ;out the several views, 5 and 6 designate, respectively, the upperand lower sections of: a two- Each section 5 and 6' comprises The outersec offset outwardly to lie in the planeof panel 8. The vertical edgesof the plate are bentasi'ndicated'at II to form right angles with theplane of the central panel 8 and extend in thedirection toward whichribs9 are offset from the panel and outer sections I 0. The anglesformed 3in each plate between the indented ribs 9 and panel 8 and outer sectionscontribute the additional strength required to withstand the weightimposed thereon by the pumping unit during operation.

The side plates 1 of each section and B of the frame are arranged inparallel, spaced relation with their respective corresponding elementsdirectlyppposedto one another, being rigidly secured inthis relationshipby end plates I2v End plates l2 are each formed with a central,vertical, offset rib l3 disposed intermediate the side edges to furtherreinforce the structure against buckling, as will appear. The end platesI2 are arranged between plates 1 in parallelplanes forming right angleswithw'the zlatter, .theyertical edges of plates I2 being secured bywelding or the like to the outer sections H) of side-plates 1 adjacentthe ribs 9. To assist in maintaining 1 this rlationship, theie01 .e'sJ4? of end plates I 2 "are -vbvent at right angles; ,forming narrowbear- :jing, Surfacesfor side plates 1-. [.5 indicates a plurralityoftriangular-corner plates secured in :the :inside corners of therectangle delineated by the 'side ;and end: plates 'I andi IZ incross-section to reinforce the described :relationship of these -parts:A T-*irori"l6 is=attach ed in vertical posi- -tionby-weldirigror:thezlike to themiddle of the 1rib: l3 of eachiendplate'l2so as to project into .ithexiframe for guiding. the ends of a'cross'head .be'understoo'd'that the Teirons It at correspcndting ends ofrespective sections5 and B areyin any completely assembled-frame,perfectly aligned to assure uninterrupted :movement of the crosshead.frcirri top tobottom'of the composite frame.

The inwardly-directed edges H of side plates "1; in addition toreinforcing the latter plates, also provide guides for ,counterweightsadapted to ireiprocatevertically in opposition to the move- :mento'f'the cros'shead at the outside 'of the 1"e'- A spective end platesl2. Each section 5 and]; is requipped with 'a'" pair 'o'f identicalcovers 'Il for the ends thereof to complete the verticalenclosurerinwhi'ch the 'counterweights are raise dand lowered. Aplurality of hi ngeeleme'nts 18 are. 'secu'red' td "tne'uge fof ea'chc'oyer fl' and com- .plerr'ientaryli ingeelements were seeu dto t iedgesbfithe'side plateslwith which the covers are contiguous when theframe is assembledlfor us'eQ Hinge pins 20' i nserted through therespeci -cu'reth covers tothe side plates; The removal of hinge pins 20at one side of any one of c'pyers -lTpe'rmits' that cover to be'l slvvung outwardly on the hinge assembly at'tl'ie opposite side, 'facili--t'altir'i'g adjustment of the counterweights'and the replacement of thecover. u

- While 'theframe sections are substantially identical in theparticulars hereinabov e pointed out, it will he observed by referenceto Fig; 1 that reach of side plates T of the lower section 6 .is for'medwith a cut-o'ut,' indicatedat 2'I,'of a .width at-the bottom of thesection substantially .equal to the distance between the end plates l2.Theside edges of the opening 2| in each plate .cpnvergeupwardlyethroughthe ribs 9 to provide a; widthin'openingzl at the'top thereof-approxi-\rnatelyequal tothat fpthelpanel 8.1 1

iwmpQsi eframetm'ay 'be.;c0mp0sed OfJSeC- tions 5 are identical to oneanother and are seionagof anynumberiandzsize; :f'Ihc upperrsec- I curedtogether in the same manner as are the sections 5 and 6 of the presentembodiment, as is about to be described. T this end, each upper section5 and the top of the lower section 6 are equipped with narrow flangeplates 22, welded or otherwise secured to the horizontal edges ofrespective side plates 1 so as to project laterally therefrom. Eachflange plate 22 is formed with a series of holes adaptedto registerwithholes of the plate 22 of the adjoining-frame section upon assembly ofthe unit for the extension of bolts or the like by which the sectionsare re- =leasablyconnected.

I V A crown plate 23 is superimposed upon the top of the uppermostsection 5 of the assembly .and conforms in. outline with the upper edges'of the four' side and end plates 1 and I2. Each end of. the crown plate23 is accordingly formed with extensions 24 which overlie the outersections l 5 -of side plates T to- 'obtain additionalsup--porttherefrom: A large opening- 25 is formed in the center-of'crown;plate23 for the'extensi-on of the polished -rod on -the-upstrokeofrthe pumping ;assemblytwhich the frameis adapted tosupport." The plateis slotted as at 26 at each end on a medial line,- which slots-26register with vertical slots 21 cut in theupper portions of the endplates 12 to accommodate counterweight sprockets (not'shownj)forthe-pumping unit. At opposite sides o-f'sl0ts26 the ends of plate 23are bent" downwardly" to engage the outer surfaces TOf the endplates izat opposite sides of the vertical slots- 2:- so as to resistdisplacement of ccrownplate 23 in-directionsparallelwith side 'plates'1: It will-be-understood that crown plate .23 is-adapted' to-supportbearings on=opposite sides of both slots" 26 for rotatable support-ofshafts 'onwhich' the counterweightsprockets are -mount ed. Lateralmovement of crown -p1at'e'23 relative to the'sections 5and fi-therebelowis obviated by vertical retainer plates 28 secured to the underside ofcrown-plate 23*, of a-lengtlr only "slightly less tharlr the distance'betweerrthe side 'plates'l ":The retainers 28' arespaced rap-art-fadistance' subst'antially' equal to" the widths of panels t6'whereb'yitheends thereof: engage th'e 'side'plate's "1 adj ace'nt'tha angleformed'between the panels-and iridented 'ribs Eirofplates "1; The loweredges of retainers-2 serebent-at rightangles 'to'contribute"additional-=-strength to the crown plate assembl '29indicates-aware; -bolted 'or otherwiseattached to' lugs- 3i];mountedupon crown plate fi to'enclose the "counterweight sprocketsand-bearings. A pair cf'lifting eyes'fl are secured by welding or th'e'like tUthet pof 'ca '29 to facilitate its removal and "replacement whenthe sprocket "bearings o'r counterweight "chainsrequire {attention.Correspondingly, crownfplate"32 lis providdpyith lifting pads 32 mountedby welding or f ilie like to each of the rear corners, respectively,hereof by which pla'te'i's with 'the'sprocketsafid bearings mountedthereon'niay befinore easily installed in" th'efdscribed"relationshipwith the frame section 5? In pr'dr't'o fac'l'itate access to thelower'pu'mprug-mechanism lioused within' 'the bottom" frame section 5,fprovideen opening in panel 8 of one side"platel' offsaid'lower section'6: Along the 70 upper fedgefof the opening 'astrip'r33 fe -welded.

fo'nesideof which overhangs -the"opening--to'- recceivieftl'ierfeunderthe-upper ,ed'geof: a closureiplate .gtflcfifxat :wid hisbstantiallynth? same-a ibetie the opening but slightly shorter for ga-purppse 75 about to be described. Four lugs secured to FRI:

the inner surfaces of the side plate I, last identified, projectslightly into the opening to support th closure 34 against pressure fromthe outside of the frame. The lower edge of closure 34 is held in placeby a pair of lugs 36 attached to the outside of side plate 1 at thelower edge of the opening. The lugs 36 extend upwardly into the openinga distance less than the overhang of strip 33 at the upper edge ofclosure 34. A handle 3! is provided to manipulate closure plate 34 whichmay be placed in position to substantially fill the opening by firstextending the upper edge of the closure under strip 33 and thereafterelevating the same over the lower lugs 36, behind which closure 34 maythen be dropped. An opening controlled by such a closure plate may beprovided in each side of the lower section, and each section thereabovemay be equipped in the same manner if desired.

It will thus be noted that I have provided a frame composed of aplurality of sections adapted for most facile assembly at the point ofuse to provide a supporting structure of any desirable size, eachsection being economically constructed of plate and formed toaccommodate the chains, sprockets, and crosshead mechanism of modern oilwell pumping units.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, itwill be understood that many changes in size, design, shape and numberof the parts may be made, that the upper section 5 of the frame andcrown plate 23 may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured together priorto assembly of the composite frame at the well, that any conventionalexpedients may be provided to facilitate mounting the frame over thewell, or the entire assembly may be supported on rails for lateralmovement thereof so as to enable removal of the pumping mechanism ortubing, etc., from the well when occasion demands, and that otherconventional door-supporting apparatus may be substituted for the strip33 and lugs 35 and 36 of the present embodiment, if desired, all withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a derrick frame structure for a well pumping unit, a pair offrames, each comprising a pair of opposed side plates and a pair ofopposed end plates secured rigidly in right angular relationship, saidend plates being inset with respect to the lateral edges of said sideplates to form a central chamber of a length less than the length ofeach side plate, and end chambers, each of said side plates extending ateach end beyond said end plates and forming with the exterior side ofeach of said end plates the side walls of each one of the said endchambers each one of said end chambers being adjacent an end of saidcentral chamber, a closure member hinged to one of said side walls ofeach end chamber, the upper end of one of said frames and the lower endof the other frame being flanged, means to hold said flanges of saidrespective frames together with one of said frames superimposed upon theother and the corresponding chambers thereof alignedwith one another,and a crown plate superimposed upon the upper end of the uppermost framehaving depending retainer plates extending into the central chamber ofthe upper frame to resist lateral displacement of the crown plate, saidcrown plate having a central opening therein registeringwith saidcentral chamber and having elongated slots in opposite ends,respectively of said plate registering with said end chambers.

2. In a derrick frame structure for a well pumping unit, a pair offrames, each comprising a pair of opposed side plates and a pair ofopposed end plates secured rigidly in right angular relationship, saidend plates being inset with respect to the lateral edges of said sideplates to form a central chamber of alength less than the length of eachof said side plates, and vertical end chambers, each of said side platesextending at each end beyond said end plates and forming with theexterior side of each of said end plates the side walls of each one ofthe said vertical end chambers, each one of said end chambers beingadjacent an end of said central chamber, a closure member hinged to oneof said side walls of each vertical end chamber, the upper end of one ofsaid frames and the lower end of the other frame being flanged, means tohold said flanges of said respective frames together with one of saidframes superimposed upon the other and the corresponding chambersthereof aligned with oneanother, a crown plate superimposed upon theupper end of the uppermost frame having a central hole therein and slotsin opposite ends thereof vertically aligned with the respective endchambers, means to releasably secure said crown plate on said frame, anda plurality of lifting pads secured to the corners of said crown plate.

3. In a derrick frame structure for a well pumping unit, a pair of framesections each comprising a pair of vertical side plates and a pair ofvertical end plates, the latter extending transversely between said sideplates at points spaced inwardly from the ends of the latter to maintainthe same in spaced parallel relationship, and form a central chambereach of said side plates having indented ribs extending vertically anddisposed adjacent and between said end plates, each of said end plateshaving indented ribs vertically arranged and disposed equi-spaced fromthe lateral edges thereof, respectively, vertical guides mounted on theribs of said end plates, respectively, and within the central chamberformed by said side and end plates, an end closure in substantiallyspaced parallel relation to said inwardly spaced end plates formingvertical end chambers across the spaced apart ends of said vertical sideplates adjacent each end of the said central chamber, means to securesaid sections together with corresponding elements thereof verticallyaligned with one another, a crown plate carried on the top of theuppermost frame section, and means to maintain said frame sections andcrown plate in aligned relationship.

LUTHER A. BLACKBURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 7 OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News Record, June3, 1943, page 91.

